Having the opportunity to travel is one of life’s greatest pleasures, but for individuals who have sleep issues it can be difficult. We sleep differently when we are away from home, usually skipping the first REM (rapid eye movement) episode, having a less deep sleep and waking up more often than we would at home.

If you have upcoming travel plans, keep these recommendations from the sleep technicians at the Sleep Center at Bailey Medical Center in mind.

Stick to your normal routine.

Tracy Foster, nurse practitioner at Bailey Medical Center, has been working as a nurse for more than 28 years. Throughout her career, she has held numerous positions, with her current role at The Center for Bariatrics having the most profound impact on her.

Prior to working within the Hillcrest system, Foster worked in homecare and hospice. She later became the program director for Bailey Bariatrics while the program was still fairly new.

It’s that time of year again…we’re fighting the crowds at the malls and department stores to cross everything off of our holiday shopping list. If you are a planner, you might already have most, if not all of your shopping done. However, there are those of us who wait until the last minute to find those perfect gifts. Regardless of your strategy, it’s important to be mindful of what you are purchasing, especially if there are children on your list.